THE Bureau of Customs confiscated more than 500 card-skimming devices, used to illegally gather ATM card and credit card users’ information and counterfeit credit cards worth millions of pesos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.
Customs Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Arnel Alcaraz said the card-skimming devices and counterfeit credit cards were discovered from a Chinese national who arrived at the Naia Terminal 2 aboard PR 383 at 8:30 yesterday morning.
He said the seized items belonged to Wu Hong Zheng, who came from Guanzhou, China, and will be charged for violating the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 in relation to certain provisions of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.
The BOC received a tip from its intelligence source that skimming equipment and assorted blank cards and other access devices, will be brought into the Naia.
The bureau was alerted over the illegal items following a recent rash of bank and credit card theft using fake ATM cards.
The skimming equipment can duplicate assorted cards or credit cards that are mostly used in casinos.
Initial investigation conducted by the Customs-Enforcement Security Service agents showed that Wu is a frequent traveler in the Philippines, traveling Manila to China every week.
Airport Customs Collector Ed Macabeo ordered the seizure of the misdeclared items found inside the 37 boxes that comprised of Tory Burch sandals, Fendi shoes, Louis Vuitton bags, Asus Computer laptops, mobile phone accessories, electronic cigarette devices and several credit card and ATM that have Chinese markings and skimming devices.
Customs examiners at the Naia were ordered to strictly monitor passengers mostly come from China.
Macabeo said they will coordinate with the banks’ concern about the skimming device purportedly designed to steal bank card information and could possibly withdraw money from ATM machines. He added the device can duplicate assorted cards or credit cards that mostly used in hotels and casinos.
Macabeo also said the confiscated devices already have funds on it and are ready for withdrawal once the user reach the Philippine casinos.